Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Duality ❯ Faith ( Chapter 4 )

Chapter Four: Faith

Naturally the moment Naruto stepped out of the prison he realized he had absolutely no idea what the hell he was going to do. He just had to do something.

With a sigh, the blond boy sat upon the stone steps of the building and pondered his situation sourly. Sekai had been arrested for trying to steal research for the Fushi Tensei, and he would not tell anyone why. Everyone just assumed he had been a traitor all along. Still, Naruto could not believe his kind brother would do something like this. There had to be more to the story than they knew.

He had to do something. He just did not know what that something would be.

So engrossed in his thoughts, Naruto did not notice Sai approaching until the other boy had spoken.

“Are you upset over your perverted brother getting in trouble?” Sai asked thoughtfully, finding the lost expression on Naruto’s face disconcerting. “I’d hate to think what would happen to him if he were in a public prison… Something tells me he’d… Never mind.” Sai decided it would not be wise to say something like that at a time like this. Something told him that Naruto would not appreciate it.

Naruto was confused thankfully. “Huh? Oh. Hi, Sai.” He was used to Sai saying unusual things though so he easily dropped it. “Yeah, I’m worried about Aniki. He’s not a traitor though! I just have to find out what’s really going on…”

Sai nodded and sat down beside his blond friend. This situation reminded him of how Naruto would not give up on Sasuke. No matter how much Sasuke had fought against it, their bond was something that could not be broken. It was Naruto’s faith that gave it that strength. Sai had believed in their bond because it was the same he had once had with his brother. So Sai decided to do what no one else seemed to be able to do—he would continue to believe in Naruto’s judgment. If Naruto saw good in Sekai, even after this, then it was true.

“Hmm. First, let’s assimilate all the facts we know thus far,” Sai suggested.

“Aniki’s not a bad person!” Naruto said fiercely.

Sai nodded. “And he met with Kain last night, who told him to get the Immortality technique research. So, if we are running on the assumption that Sekai did not do so as an order, then we must also assume that he was forced into it against his will.”

Naruto nodded, gazing at Sai eagerly. “Yeah yeah!” That totally made sense!

“And, most likely, that means Kain is holding something over Sekai in order to get him to cooperate,” Sai noted, thinking as he spoke.

Blinking wide blue eyes, Naruto asked, “Like what?”

Sai thought about that, but it hit him eventually, as only something very obvious could do. “His friend Yume has not arrived at the village yet.”

“Do you think Kain has her?!”

“It is a distinct possibility.”

“So that’s it!” Naruto stood up with a grin. “We just have to tell everyone and—”

Sai reached up and grabbed the blond’s wrist before he could reenter the prison. “Wait, Naruto. Don’t get ahead of yourself. We still do not have proof that any of this is true.”

Naruto’s expression fell once again, realizing Sai was right. “Oh. Damn it! So how do we find proof?” he asked, immediately moving to the next step. All he kept seeing in his mind was Sekai’s bruised face gazing at him sadly. He had to get his brother out of there…

Seeing that Naruto wasn’t going to do anything rash (yet), Sai let go of his hand and stood. “At the moment we should start at the beginning. Were Sekai’s things collected by the investigators?”

Naruto shook his head. “No, his bag is at my place.”

“Good. Let’s go take a look.”

Moments later they were sitting in Naruto’s small apartment and going through Sekai’s belongings. The extra clothes could immediately be dismissed, as they offered nothing substantial, other than Sekai’s taste in wardrobe was rather eclectic. Then their attention turned to the other items. Naruto looked at the weapons, but there was nothing interesting about them either—they were just ordinary kunai knives. They could be bought in any ninja village.

Sai studied the blank talisman paper and writing implements; an old fashioned writing pen which looked handmade and a small bottle of ink. Feeling the paper, he could tell it was specially made to be in tune to chakra, but he could not say he had seen anything like it before. The ink bottle was unlabeled, and taking a whiff of it Sai knew it was also specifically made. He knew a bit about different kinds of inks, and he had never smelt anything like it before. Experimentally, he took out his drawing pad and tested it.

He drew a fine arc on the page and watched as it disappeared.

Naruto leaned over Sai’s shoulder to watch. “Eh? Why’d it do that?”

“This ink is probably specifically made for writing symbols on the talismans,” Sai explained, frowning as he put the pen down and touched his notepad. The page wasn’t even wet. “Meaning it might be incompatible with anything else.”

“Oh…” Naruto scratched his head thoughtfully. “I guess that’s pretty rare, right?”

Sai nodded and put his art pad away. “Most likely Kain and Sekai are the only ones who have anything like this.” That gave him an idea. Though it was not particularly wise, he could not see any other route for Naruto to take. “Which also means we could use it to track Kain down.”

Naruto brightened. “Yeah! Then we could save Yume and Sekai can talk!” But something occurred to him as well. “Ano sa, ano sa, do you think Tsunade-baa-chan will go along with this though?”

“Maybe. She wouldn’t send Team Kakashi though, but an elite ninja team. And not before she had a discussion about it with the elders.” Last he’d checked Tsunade was still having trouble with them trying to control her actions.

Naruto frowned. “But we don’t have time for that! They wouldn’t even be trying to free Sekai either! So we’ve got to do it!”

“Neither of us can track though,” Sai pointed out. He could use his Choju Giga technique to locate people, but not over long distances and he doubted that Kain would still be in Konoha.

The blond ninja dug his hand through his hair, tugging it in frustration. “Ugh! Why is this so difficult?!”

“Well… I’ve read that the things that are worth while usually have to be fought hard for.”

That earned him a small smile from Naruto. “Heh, I guess so.” Sasuke had been hard to bring back, and it had taken years to do so. He didn’t regret it though, even if he was being a bastard lately. And Sekai was definitely worth it.

So Naruto thought about it. They couldn’t track, true, but who did he know that could?

There was Kakashi of course, but he couldn’t ask the Jounin for help. He’d try to stop them. That left…

“I know! I know who we’ll ask to help!” Naruto announced happily and grabbed Sai’s hand, dragging him out of the apartment.

-

The ninjas standing guard around the cell gave Sasuke dark, untrusting looks as he passed, not trying to stop him. He did not even spare them a glance, however. He walked straight by them and looked into the gloom of the cell.

Sekai laid prone on the floor, curled up and hiding his face against his legs. He was the very picture of wretchedness. Sasuke felt his lip curl in disgust and rage.

“That’s your brother. Not mine.”

Sasuke felt his hands fist. He wanted to break into the cell and take his anger out on the blond.

He had lost everything. Itachi had taken it all away. First his family, then Naruto. Only he hadn’t really lost Naruto, because the hyperactive idiot would not let him go.

Naruto was all he had. Even if he couldn’t be with him the way he wanted, because Naruto only saw him as a friend (or, he shuddered to think, a brother), but at the very least Sasuke had that frustrating bond.

Now because of this freak, he didn’t even know if he had that anymore.

For that alone he wanted to kill Sekai. But Sekai had also betrayed Naruto’s trust and, once the idiot figured it out, it would break his heart.

That was something Sasuke couldn’t forgive. Never mind the fact that he had done it before himself. Or maybe it was because of that.

Sasuke couldn’t stand by and let it happen to Naruto again.

Sekai stirred when he felt that deadly killing aura direction on him. He shivered and didn’t dare move. A memory flashed in his mind of Yume describing Sai’s first meeting with Sasuke, and how the ANBU had been surprised to be afraid. Sekai could sympathize completely now. “Why aren’t you with Naruto?” he asked quietly.

“Why would I be?” Sasuke snapped angrily. As if you don’t know, you’ve turned him against me!

Slowly, Sekai sat up and looked at the pissed off Uchiha, his concern outweighing his fear. “Where is he?”

“Like I’m going to tell you.”

“You have to go find him. He’s going to do something stupid.”

Sasuke snorted derisively. “He always does something stupid and he certainly doesn’t need my help.” He doesn’t even want me around, just his precious big brother…

“Sasuke, listen,” Sekai spoke desperately, gazing imploringly up at Sasuke’s hateful eyes. “When has Naruto ever not gotten into trouble that he could handle on his own?”

Sasuke blinked and stared back. His anger slowly faded, like grains of sand slipping through his fingers. Whatever Sekai’s intentions were, he was also right about that. Naruto was powerful, but he was still an idiot.

Sasuke gripped the bars, unknowingly mirroring Naruto’s actions from earlier that day. “If anything happens to him, I’ll kill you.”

Sekai smiled slightly. “I’ll hold you to that.”

Growling softly, the dark haired youth took off down the hall toward the prison’s entrance, to track down his idiot.

Reassured that Naruto would be alright now, Sekai laid back down on the floor and waited. Surely Sasuke would find him in time…

-

Inuzuka Kiba listened to Naruto’s long and animated explanation, though it had taken a while to get over the surprise that the blond had a brother.

“So that wasn’t you in the dress?”

Naruto rolled his eyes. “No! That was Aniki that Sasuke took to the hospital!”

“So he’s finally given up on you?”

“Huh?”

Kiba smirked. He doesn’t notice anything until it’s right in front of him… “Never mind. Akamaru and I will help, but you owe us one. Just be glad we didn’t have a mission today.”

Naruto grinned widely and the three of them took off into the forest surrounding Konoha.

-

Kiba had been doubtful about Akamaru being able to track this Kain guy’s trail by using ink, which was a pretty common thing, but Sai had been right. The ink was different, and that went for its scent as well. The three boys followed the large white dog through the trees, a trail that was leading them ever closer to the edge of the Fire Country, and a strong feeling of déjà vu struck him.

“This reminds me a little of three years ago,” he remarked to Naruto.

Naruto grinned. “Yeah, me too.” He wondered if they should have gathered a bigger team, since Kain was supposed to be pretty strong. Still, he did not want a repeat of three years ago and have his friends get hurt again… They hadn’t had much time either. He had to get Sekai out of that cell!

“So what’s the plan?” It didn’t particularly bother Kiba that they should have brought more people (because he didn’t fully understand the danger) nor that they would all probably get into trouble for this stunt. It sounded kind of fun, actually, rescuing a damsel in distress…

“Um. I was thinking we’d just grab this Yume girl and run for it…”

Kiba shared a doubtful look with Sai. “We should’ve grabbed Shikimaru.”

Sai laughed softly at Naruto’s disgruntled expression. “Yes. I doubt things will go all that smoothly…”

“We’ve got the element of surprise on our side though,” Naruto pointed out.

“Naruto. When do things ever go smoothly for us?” Kiba asked wryly, smirking.

“Erm…”

-

They reached a clearing just outside the Land of Fire, though thankfully no where near the Valley of the End. In the clearing was a small wooden cottage with a patio in front and smoke coming steadily from the chimney. They did not need to hear Akamaru’s whine to conclude that this was where their trail ended.

On the patio sat two men and one young girl. The men were sharing a small white bottle of sake silently. One man was younger, with long hair that fell well passed his shoulders and wearing a loose men’s kimono that revealed a good portion of his chest. The air around him screamed sensuality and danger all at once.

The other man was older, with shorter hair that was graying ever so slightly, but he was still attractive—in the same manner that made a katana beautiful; elegant and sharp. His wardrobe was simpler than his companion’s, adding a harsher look to him.

“Do you think the older one’s Kain?” Naruto asked quietly.

“Your guess is as good as ours,” Sai replied, just as silent. “That girl must be Yume, however.”

The girl’s appearance was far different than the men’s. She was small and couldn’t be any older than thirteen or fourteen by her looks. Her skin was incredibly pale and her hair was a shocking white, pinned up away from her face with small tendrils falling loose around her neck. The beautiful white kimono she wore only added to her delicate appearance. She looked like a rather ornate porcelain doll.

Naruto smiled. She’s pretty. No wonder Sekai likes her. His brother had a fondness for cute things after all.

Don’t worry, Aniki. I’ll get her back for you.

Kiba was suggesting that they have Akamaru see if he could get one of the men to follow him away from the cottage while the three of them took on the remaining opponent, when suddenly the older one looked directly at them and spoke.

“Hello there!” His voice was deep and friendly enough, but his eyes slanted with ill intent. “Do come out so we can see who our guests are.”

Naruto, Kiba, and Sai all looked at each other, hesitating.

The man chuckled softly. “If you don’t, I’m afraid Yume-chan will have to die much quicker than expected,” he told them pleasantly, as if he were inviting them all to dinner or remarking on the weather.

Seeing that they had no choice, the four friends walked out into the clearing.

The man’s face lit up. “Oh, you’re from Konoha! I see Sekai-chan broke his promise after all. Silly brat.”

“He didn’t, Kain-sama,” Yume said softly, drinking calmly out of her tea cup and not at all bothered that the man she sat beside had just threatened her life. “That is Naruto. He came on his own to clear Sekai’s name.”

Kain beamed widely at Naruto. “Oh, the tight brotherly bond. Very cute. Yes, you do look like our Sekai-chan, don’t you? Well, no matter. I never made a promise that I wouldn’t kill you…”

Naruto glared, rage filling him. This was the man who had taken his brother away, who was responsible for the two of them not growing up together and for making Sekai so sad. “He’s not yours!”

“Oh?” Kain looked amused by the idea.

“Yeah! I’ll prove it with my fist! I’ll pound your face in!”

The talisman user chortled lightly. “Foolish boy, just like your brother. Of course he’s mine! I’ve raised him, trained him. He may have escaped my grasp for the moment, but soon he will return to me. He has no choice. He could never have a life in Konoha now, not after his betrayal. To think, Sekai-chan actually thought he could get away with leaving without punishment! Now his dream to live with his little brother will never come true!”

Sai laid a hand on Naruto’s shoulder to keep him from charging forward just yet. “So you admit that Sekai did not come to Konoha with plans to help you?” he asked politely.

Kain’s eyes turned on him. “Which one is he, Yume-chan?”

“Sai,” Yume supplied, not looking up.

“Oh, the artist. I was rather hoping that Uchiha Sasuke would show up.” Kain smiled and shrugged. “Ah well. I’m sure I’ll meet him eventually, especially after I kill the one most precious to him…” His gaze trained back on Naruto and he smirked. He was standing just as Yume spoke again.

“You won’t be able to,” she said softly but confidently.

Kain raised an eyebrow at her. “You doubt your master’s powers?”

“You underestimate Uzumaki Naruto,” Yume explained. “Those who do always regret it. My eyes have seen it many times. They will continue to do so.”

The younger man finally did something. He laughed at the bewildered expression on Kain’s face. “Don’t bother, Yume, he’s too crazy to listen!”

Kain gave him a look somewhere between hurt and irritation. “Saburo, you could be a bit more supportive…”

The long haired man glared at him defiantly. “Fuck off; you’re the one that replaced me for some ninja brat.”

“Are you ever going to let that go?” Kain asked, sighing in frustration.

Saburo gazed at the sake in his hand thoughtfully before chugging it back. “No, I don’t think I shall.”

“You’re drunk.”

“You’re an asshole.”

As they argued, Naruto exchanged a glance with Kiba as he took out a kunai from his pouch. Kiba nodded in understanding and readied himself, Akamaru shifting ever so slightly beside him. Kain noticed anyway.

“Oh, planning to grab Yume while we’re distracted, eh?” Kain grinned. “Admirable, but foolish all the same.” He thrust out a hand, but that was all they saw.

The talisman moved too quickly in the air for their eyes to catch. It headed straight for Naruto and they did not have time to react.

Sasuke did.

He appeared in front of Naruto and sliced the paper in half with his katana before it ever reached him, his Sharingan glowing brightly in the daylight. As the split talisman fell to the ground, he saw the symbol on it read “death.”

Naruto blinked at the dark-haired boy’s back, completely shocked to see him there. “Sasuke?”

“Idiot,” Sasuke snapped without glancing at him. “Pay attention!”

Naruto was still too surprise to pay much notice to the reprimand. “You followed me…”

“Obviously.”

“But why? After what I said…” He may be mad at Sasuke still, but he felt guilty for his outburst earlier even so.

His friend snorted. “You total idiot. We’ve said a lot of crap to each other. It’s never stopped us before.”

Slowly, Naruto smiled, knowing he’d been forgiven. His own anger was gone just as quickly. After all, hadn’t Sekai said that Sasuke was just looking out for him? “Yeah.”

Sai smiled silently at the two of them, exchanging a look with Kiba to see the other boy had noticed it too. Even when they fought, the two of them could not break their connection.

“That’s so beautiful,” Kain interrupted the moment. “This is the bond Yume speaks of and the one Sekai-chan admires so much. I’ll take great pleasure in destroying you both! Then that brat will know true grief!”

The ninja teens tensed, ready for the talisman user’s next move, but then something happened that surprised them all. From her robes, Yume pulled out a small dagger and jammed it into Kain’s leg, just above the ankle.

Kain screamed in pain as the blood poured onto the ground. Yume gave it one good twist before her master managed to kick her away from him.

“You little bitch!” he gasped, pulling out the dagger and holding it to her threateningly. “How dare you betray me?!”

Yume glared, and though she did not meet his eyes directly her voice was strong and firm. “I am honoring Sekai’s wish! I won’t let you hurt Naruto and Sasuke!”

Kain raised the dagger in preparation to thrust at her, when Naruto’s kunai connected with it, sending it from his grasp. He’d forgotten about their guests!

Akamaru rushed forward with a growl, moving between Yume and Kain. Kiba was right behind him. He picked up the girl and quickly carried her from the cottage. Getting Yume out of danger was their first priority.

Kain, yowling incoherently in frustration, tried to stand, but his injured leg gave under him. Saburo caught him mid-fall.

“You asshole,” the younger man hissed, his concerned eyes bellying his angry words. “I told you not to get blood on my house.”

Kain smiled slightly through the pain. “Sorry.”

Saburo pulled out a talisman, still keeping his hold on Kain. He looked at the ninja. “Tell Sekai he’s won this round. That should amuse him.” Then, shouting “WIND!” a rushing current of air carried the two of them off into the trees, leaving only falling leaves in their wake.

Yume smiled gently. “He hates him, but he loves him too. Saburo-kun is always at war with himself.”

Kiba glanced down at the fragile-looking girl in his arms. Her outfit was stained with blood now, but it was her pale eyes that drew his attention. “You’re blind! How did you see him?”

“I could hear and smell him,” she told him, putting her arms around the boy’s neck, not at all bothered he was holding her still. “You learn to enhance your senses when one of them is missing. We should go quickly. As soon as Saburo gets Kain to safety, he might return to get revenge, if he’s angry enough. Besides, Sekai is waiting for us.”

Naruto grinned at the girl though she couldn’t see him. “Yeah!” They had their proof that Sekai was innocent; a confession from Kain himself, with all of them as witnesses!

“I’m sorry all of you went to so much trouble,” Yume continued as they raced through the treetops, returning to Konoha. “If I hadn’t gotten caught, Kain-sama would never have tried to use me against Sekai…”

“Don’t apologize,” Kiba told her. “It’s not like you got caught on purpose. Besides, it wasn’t as much trouble for us as it was for that bastard’s leg!”

Yume bit her lip. “If I hadn’t done that, he would have been a much more formidable opponent. You mustn’t underestimate him either.”

“Don’t worry!” Naruto said, still beaming widely with happiness. “We’ve fought tough guys before.”

“I know you have.”

“Oh. Right. Wait, if you’re blind, how does your technique work?”

“I see things strongest in dreams, though sometimes I see things when I’m awake as well. I guess you could compare them to visions.”

“Ohh…”

“You don’t really get it, do you?”

Naruto laughed in embarrassment. “Nope, not really!”

Yume smiled slightly. “It’s alright. I’ll try to explain once we get to Konoha.”

And we can get Sekai out of jail. Naruto glanced behind him at Sasuke, who merely looked back at him with that blank expression. Warmth filled Naruto’s chest all the same. Even though I hurt his feelings, he came to help me and he saved me. Unlike when he was twelve, that did not bother him so much. Now he realized it was because Sasuke cared, even if he didn’t want to admit it.

“We’ll catch up in a minute,” he told Kiba and immediately stopped on a branch, grabbing Sasuke’s arm before he could leap passed.

Sasuke glanced from him to their friends, who kept moving forward with Yume. “What is it?” he asked, not pulling his arm from Naruto’s grasp. Even through his shirt, the touch made his skin tingle warmly.

Naruto smiled gently, feeling shyness swirling in his belly. “Thanks. You didn’t have to come.”

Sasuke shrugged one shoulder nonchalantly. “Someone has to look after you.” He tried to say it as though he would prefer if that ‘someone’ wasn’t him.

Naruto shifted nervously, unsure of what to do, so he gave into the first impulse he had. He threw his arms around Sasuke’s shoulders and held him tightly.

Sasuke blinked at his sudden armful of Naruto, unsure if this was really happening. Perhaps all this was really some bizarre dream that wouldn’t end. Maybe Orochimaru had taken over his body after all and he still existed, his consciousness merely running through this never-ending dream as the legendary one-third wreaked havoc upon the world. “Naruto, what are you…?”

It was like a dam breaking. Words tumbled out of Naruto’s mouth helplessly. “Thank you. Thank you for helping me fight Orochimaru that day and not killing me. Thank you for resealing the Kyuubi. Thank you for coming back. Thank you for still being my friend.” Smiling, he pressed his face against the slightly shorter boy’s neck, not wanting to ever let go.

Feeling as though his entire body was growing warm from the inside, Sasuke slowly reached up to return the hug, his arms circling around Naruto’s waist. He did not respond because there was really nothing he could say to that, but he did hide a very small smile against Naruto’s black and orange jacket.

TBC. Celebrations are cut short as Konoha makes ready for Kain’s inevitable attack.